Listening to Iris Murdoch: Music, Sounds, and Silences [Paperback]

When we think of Iris Murdochs relationship with art forms, the visual arts come most readily to mind. However, music and other sounds are equally important. Soundscapes  music and other types of sound  contribute to the richly textured atmosphere and moral tenor of Murdochs novels. This book will help readers to appreciate anew the sensuous nature of Iris Murdochs prose, and to listen for all kinds of music, sounds and silences in her novels, opening up a new sub-field in Murdoch studies in line with the emerging field of Word and Music Studies.

This study is supported by close readings of selected novels exemplifying the subtle variety of ways she deploys music, sounds and silence in her fiction. It also covers Murdochs knowledge of music and her allusions to music throughout her work, and includes a survey of musical settings of her words by various composers.

1. Chapter 1 Listening to Iris Murdoch.- Introduction.- Music and sound in fiction: a review of the field.- Music in Murdochs life.- Discussions of music in Murdochs philosophy.- The sound-worlds in Murdochs fiction.- Part I  Music.- 2. Chapter 2 The music is too painful: Music as character and atmosphere.- Introduction.- Awaken, my blackbird: Music in The unicorn.- Like a breathless enchanted girl: Music in The red and the green.- The swan princess: Music in The time of the angels.- The concourse of sweet sounds: Music in The nice and the good.- Conclusion.- 3. Chapter 3 The point at which flesh and spirit most joyfully meet: Singers and singing.- Introduction.- Che cosa e amor?: Singing in The sea, the sea.- Singing as exclusion in The message to the planet.- Never to sing again? Never?: Singing in The philosophers pupil (1983).- Conclusion.- 4. Chapter 4 Musical women and unmusical men.- Introduction: Of course they never letthe women sing.l��